Description

Hydrodynamic Effects, Fluid-Structure Interaction, and Concrete Damage Modeling in MIDAS FEA NX

This on-demand session focuses on concrete gravity dams resist loads through their own weight.

But during earthquakes, additional forces emerge:

• Hydrodynamic pressure from reservoir interaction

• Frequency-dependent added mass effects

• Crack initiation and stiffness degradation

• Increased base shear and overturning moments

If these are not modeled correctly, you may be underestimating structural demand.

This session shows how to capture these mechanisms accurately in MIDAS FEA NX.

How It Works 

1. STEP 1 – Register
   Fill out the form and submit it

2. STEP 2 – Watch
   Watch the on-demand webinar anytime. Expand practical insights, real projects, and immediate application.

After attending this session, you will:

• Understand hydrodynamic effects in gravity dams
• Apply Westergaard’s added mass method correctly
• Select appropriate seismic analysis type
• Model nonlinear concrete damage behavior
• Improve seismic safety evaluation confidence

On-Demand Session Overview

01. Structural Behavior & Stability

• Load Mechanisms: Understanding load transfer, sliding, and overturning stability.
• Key Components: Evaluation of major loads, including hydrostatic, uplift, and silt pressure.

02. Seismic Hydrodynamic Forces

• Dynamic Pressure: How reservoir inertia generates additional pressure during earthquakes.
• Distribution & Impact: Analyzing elliptical-parabolic pressure distribution and increased tensile stress at the dam heel.

03. Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI)

• Added Mass Concepts: Implementation of Westergaard’s and Zanger’s added mass methods.
• FEA Workflow: Step-by-step load-to-mass conversion and Westergaard’s equation setup in MIDAS FEA NX

04. Advanced Seismic Analysis

• Methodologies: Comparative study of Pseudo-static, Response Spectrum, and Time-History (Linear/Nonlinear) analyses.
• Interpretation: Criteria for selecting the appropriate approach and evaluating seismic results.

05. Concrete Damage & Crack Propagation

• Inelastic Modeling: Simulating tensile cracking, compressive crushing, and stiffness degradation.
• Damage Evolution: Representing real-world material failure under dynamic loading using Concrete Damage Plasticity.